Maspeth Homeowner Charged In Cop, DEP Agent Assaults

By Liz Goff

Queens prosecutors have charged a Maspeth homeowner with throwing a brick at a police officer, assaulting a second police officer and a city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) agent during an angry outburst over work permits for ongoing renovations at the home.

Edward Wysk, 51, allegedly struck Police Officer Randy Paulsaint with the brick as Paulsaint and his partner, Officer Matthew Portales, arrived at the home at 58-91 Maspeth Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. on January 23rd. Wysk is also charged with assaulting DEP agent Michael Lateef as he was issuing a stop-work order on the home.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Lateef was attempting to issue the stop-work order because Wysk did not have required paperwork to prove that asbestos was properly removed from the home during the ongoing renovations. .

Wysk became outraged when Lateef told him to shut down the renovations, Brown said. Wysk ripped up the stop-work order and threw Lateef’s credentials to the ground, Brown said.

When Lateel attempted to call police, Wysk allegedly grabbed the agent’s cell phone and threw it against a wall, smashing it to pieces, Brown said. Wysk then grabbed Lateef by his arm and shirt, but backed off and ran into the house when police arrived at the scene.

When the officers attempted to enter the house, a brick crashed through a window and struck Paulsaint in the forehead. Portales then ran to arrest Wysk, but was injured in a scuffle with the homeowner, police said.

Wysk was taken into custody, along with two construction workers who were initially believed to have tossed the brick, police said. The two men were questioned and released without charges.

Paulsaint was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where doctors used five stitches to close a deep gash on his forehead and said the officer suffered a concussion in the attack. Portoles was taken to the same hospital with bruising and swelling of his arm, according to court papers.

Wysk allegedly admitted to police that he struck Lateef, but said the officers injuries were accidental, according to the complaint. “When I saw the cuffs come out I ran into the house and up the stairs, pushing things out of the way, like to-by-fours and a fire extinguisher,” Wysk told police. “I think I may have hit the officer.”

Wysk was charged with assault on a police officer, second- and third-degree assault, criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and harassment at his arraignment on June 24, at Queens Criminal Court, where he was held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

“The defendant in this case is accused of assaulting two police officers and a DEP agent over a construction setback. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Queens County,” Brown said.

“The defendant now faces a term of incarceration for losing his temper and attacking our public servants.”